"We're not going to release evil creatures that attacked us multiple times, and will likely do so again. We certainly aren't going to pay them to join us. As I've said several times now, tie them up, take their weapons, and leave them where we found them. We'll release them when we return."

Epik will detect evil on the water prior to Nowzai lowering it. He stands ready to attack anything that emerges.

"We're not going to release evil creatures that attacked us multiple times, and will likely do so again. We certainly aren't going to pay them to join us. As I've said several times now, tie them up, take their weapons, and leave them where we found them. We'll release them when we return."

"Nowzai, do you think we can trust the captain and his men if we let them go to not hinder us in any way? I would like to have you join us as we explore the gnoll caves, the captain saying that dead things roam there worries me. If you have concerns about them, let us know, I would prefer to have you with us then guarding them if possible"

"Give me two-hundred gold, and I can have them guarding us," Nowzai replies, completely serious.

To the group, "Regarding the wands, I think we can utilize them to lower the water in the pool. With just a cursory inspection, I also theorize that they can be more efficacious in concert with each other. Dalamus, do you have the skills to activate wands and such?"

"Yes nowzai, I am able to use magical instruments....I am not as good as you, but I can handle myself quite well. what did you want me to do with the wand, did you have something in mind?"

I will prepare to jump in and get the wand once the water has lowered, I will tie my rope around my waist and ask Magma and Nemoris be ready to yank me out if needed.

In response to Epik

"Yes they are evil, and yes they attacked us, but as the captain also pointed out, they only attacked us once we invaded their lair. Yes we had reason to, to retrieve the stolen wands and save the city, but that doesn't change the fact that they didn't come to us looking for a fight, they defended themselves from our attacks. If what Nowzai says is true and that they won't take up any futher contracts against us, then I feel that we are safe to let them go, or at least leave them unguarded so Nowzai can join us as we search for the final wand against the undead and anything else we might find."

DM - Are the kobolds confined somewhere? Is the area we have put them somewhere that will keep them locked up or was it pretty much just a storage room and would require a guard?

"Let us not bicker over those pathetic little creatures. We have more important things to be concerned with. Let's bring them back here with us, this will ensure that they do not take the opportunity to harm us....I know what you say Malcolm about their intent, but I simply do not care. They are vermin. We do not have to slaughter them, but I am not at all concerned about their wasted time."

"Sounds good Nowzai, I just hope we don't do something that we will regret with those wands, but we have to take a shot at it"

We did stumble across a prison here and Triel's keys worked on the cells. If the area we are keeping them right now isn't secure, we could move them to the jail and not have to worry about them until we are ready to leave.

"Let us not bicker over those pathetic little creatures. We have more important things to be concerned with. Let's bring them back here with us, this will ensure that they do not take the opportunity to harm us....I know what you say Malcolm about their intent, but I simply do not care. They are vermin. We do not have to slaughter them, but I am not at all concerned about their wasted time."

"Sounds good Nowzai, I just hope we don't do something that we will regret with those wands, but we have to take a shot at it"

I can't say that I've ever been happier to not be around for one of the fun arguments everyone has :)

I'm going to try the 'contraption' once it's ready and everyone shows up. I don't think there's much chance of it causing problems even if it doesn't work, as we've already been putting ropes and various other items in the water.

With tightly lashed together pole arms and ladder pieces, you are eventually able to manipulate the backpack on to the wand and then flip it into the bag, closing the flap and slowly dragging it up. Once you pull it out of the water, you open the backpack with a quick tug of the rope and look inside. The metal wand is resting in the bag, and the water in the bag appears to be moving on its own. Upon closer inspection, the water in the bag is filled with tiny nearly invisible jellyfish like creatures that pulse towards you as you move in to look at them.

The Black Claws

Can't proceed unless you all tell me what you're doing exactly

1) Nowzai stays and guards
2) Pay them to help
3) Let them go
4) Confine them (tied or untied) in prison or barracks.

Gnoll Caves

Another decision before I can progress.
1) Proceed through western caves
2) Climb over rubble
3) Allow Magma to investigate bone pile

Gnoll Caves - 4 (Dalamus and I scout East and West), 2,1,3 (Looking at giant bones in an area we know is going to have undead sounds like a terrible idea.) Can Epik detect evil on them from a distance?

The vote was just slightly imprisonment over letting them go. Let me know where they are (both locations are lockable) and whether you tie them up in either location or use the manacles in the prison. You still have rope in the party? :)

The Pool

A reminder that the spoiler was for Nemoris so he could decide what to do until others get there. Please don't character act on spoilers until you're given the information

Gnoll Caves

Dalamus and Malcolm: Looks like you're scouting. Roll stealth and perception checks and let me know who is going which way, exactly.

Epik:

You don't detect any evil in the vicinity of the bones that Magma says are ahead (that you can't see)

"We should go separately, we want to get what we are here for as quick as possible. I will go to the right, and follow along the right wall. We should have someone with each of us, just in case...Epik, could you come with me?"

"Sounds good Dalamus. Nemoris, will you come with me and stay 30' or so back and cover me with your bow? I will be running away if we run into anything, so if you could just cover my organized, and in no way cowardly, retreat back to the party, that would be great."

"Sounds good Dalamus. Nemoris, will you come with me and stay 30' or so back and cover me with your bow? I will be running away if we run into anything, so if you could just cover my organized, and in no way cowardly, retreat back to the party, that would be great."

Stealth - D20+16

Perception - D20+11

Hah! My pleasure

My new network apparently blocks dndsheets, or it's down, so I can't remember what my stealth and perception values are exactly

Nemoris moves to the hallway where he attempts to cover both scouts until Epik disappears behind the rubble. Malcolm creeps forward, slowly seeing the massive mound before him come into view. As expected from Magma's description, it's a 20 foot tall pile of bones, some of which are easily 8 feet in length. Quiet as a mouse, he creeps up to within 5 feet of the bones, wary and cautious. He's proud of his accomplishment, able to see the sword-like teeth in the massive reptile skull and is preparing to move back when ...

... a tremendous explosion comes from the east and the bones leap to life in front of him. It's at this moment that the gunslinger realizes that the cavern ceiling is beyond his vision as the skeleton of what appears to be a giant version of the dinosaurs in the jungle assembles, it's massive head disappearing in the darkness above.

Malcom is not surprised since he was aware and expecting a trap of some sort

Rubble-filled passage

Dalamus clambers over the rubble easily, but Epik, who almost makes it, slips at the last minute and slides back down.

Dalamus:

Dalamus hears the ruckus as he takes a step forward into the passageway, and immediately hears groans and moans to the east. Unfortunately, he has no time to investigate as a pair of large glyphs appear on the floor beneath him and rise up both exploding in blinding and concussive force.

I never said I screamed like a girl, I just screamed. It was a manly, James Earl Jones scream. In fact, some might need to roll a listen check to figure out if they even need to come help because it was so manly, they might assume I already killed it. ;)

Do I need to make a tumble check to get away from the T-Rex and run into the smaller room without taking an AoO?